Community 'courts' blamed for high number of sexual, gender abuse cases

Kenya: The establishment of illegal community courts for arbitrating sexual abuse of children and teenage pregnancies have been blamed for the rising cases of abuse in the county.

Isaiah Khang'ati, a volunteer children's officer in the county's Children's Department, said the rampant cases of underage pregnancies and defilement in the area that have led to high numbers of school dropouts could only be stopped if such arbitration institutes were eliminated.

Poverty cycle

Speaking at a workshop organised by World Vision Kenya, Mr Khang'ati said sexual abuse cases are grave criminal offences and must never be solved outside of law courts.

"Defilement is a serious offence and should be handled as such. The future of children is disrupted and taken off-course by negligent and rogue adults who should be punished accordingly to limit the vice," he said.

Khang'ati said girls in primary and secondary schools have become victims of such evil acts by their teachers and close kinsmen.

As a result, the girls end up terminating their education prematurely and propagating the vicious cycle of poverty.

"The village elders and other leaders at community level have taken it upon themselves to resolve sexual abuse cases and even gender-based violence cases through illegal committees that go against the children's rights and are an impediment to the administration of justice," he said.

He said sweeping such offences under the carpet does not help - it only encourages more perpetrators and negatively affects young people.

Khang'ati also warned the parents of affected children against out of court negotiations, saying they were also breaking the law and would be prosecuted whenever arrested.

Deputy Governor Daniel Chemno said investigations into the matter were in progress with the aim of apprehending the culprits.

"We will ensure that all those involved in the illegalities are arrested and taken through the course of justice," he said.

Women leaders

The county, which has experienced numerous teenage pregnancy and defilement cases, has instituted measures to help return the girls to school as they continue with a three-month counselling programme at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.

Women leaders in the county, including the executive for Health, Eunice Siria, have also started a mentoring programme for the girls in a move to eliminate the vice and empower them.